The current invention substantially removes particulate waste materials or debris from the floptical medium after laser etching. A low-temperature gas containing ice crystals is applied at a predetermined angle while the floptical medium is being rotated to improve the cleaning effect. The temperatu ...

Surgical staplers for use during open and/or laparoscopic surgical procedures are disclosed. Novel firing device trapping assemblies, pushers, staple lines and firing handles are described. Many of the novel devices reduce the overall firing force experienced by the surgeon.

An improved stapler firing assembly and a surgical stapler are disclosed. The stapler comprises structural members having handle parts with opposite sides and jaw parts projecting from the handle parts. The stapler includes a mechanism for releasable engagement between an elongate locking member and ...

An improved stapler firing assembly and a surgical stapler are disclosed. The stapler comprises structural members having handle parts with opposite sides and jaw parts projecting from the handle parts. The stapler includes a mechanism for releasable engagement between an elongate locking member and ...

A cordless drive assembly for driving various orthopedic surgical instruments is described. The drive assembly is battery powered and includes tracks in the handle portion of its housing for receiving the battery. A latch locks the battery to the housing.

A fiber optic distribution system provides a frame having several bays for receiving connector modules, associated jumper organizers, and upper and lower troughs for conveying jumper fibers between adjacent bays. The jumper organizers are constructed such that interbay jumpers need not undergo more ...

A coated abrasive article comprising a backing bearing on at least one major surface thereof abrasive composites comprising a plurality of abrasive grains dispersed in a binder. The binder serves as a medium for dispersing abrasive grains, and it may also bond the abrasive composites to the backing. ...

A device, comprising a switchable optical panel and means for switching the panel between a reflecting state and a transmitting state. The switchable optical panel includes a transparent optically active layer having a first and a second major surface, a first reflective polarizer disposed on the fi ...

A personal, biometric authentication system is disclosed. The system can be used for controlling access to equipment or physical facilities. The system employs the combination of a unique, inherently specific biometric parameter recognized and compared with stored data and at least one non-specific ...